Stamping challenge & Christmas Card Challenge

This post combines 2 challenges.  This first card is for the stamping challenge.  It asked that we stamp our own background paper.  As I was thinking about it, I came across the Artful Card Kit called "Santa Baby" from HOTP.  I remembered a stamp set that came in a cardmaking magazine several years ago ("Happy Holidays: 21 Vintage Christmas Stamps"). I was also able to find similar colors in my inks ("Cracked Pistachio" Distress Oxide ink, "Barn Door" distress ink, and Versafine black ink) & watercolor pencils, so I was set. 

Both the background & the focal were stamped using stamps from that Happy Holidays set. The sentiment was stamped on a tag from the Artful Card Kit using a stamp from "Christmas Labels & Trims" (HOTP). The focal was die cut & stenciled around the edge using one of the dies from Spellbinders "2012 Heirloom Ornaments".

The inside made use of a couple of die cuts from the kit.

 

The next card was created for a very simple challenge - simply "Make a Christmas Card".  I found this focal in a Hunkydory Set (Snowy Season) and matched it with papers from a 6" x 6" "Welcome Christmas" Paper pad by Pebbles. I also used some red suede paper & white border Dazzles (HOTP). I decided to make this card closer to a square than I usually do.  This one was 6 1/4" x 5 3/4".